Target inquiry: How does a chemistry research experience impact teachers' perceptions of science inquiry

CHED 444

Cynthia Luxford, luxfordc@student.gvsu.edu, Deborah G. Herrington, herringd@gvsu.edu, and Ellen J. Yezierski, yezierse@gvsu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Dr, Allendale, MI 49401-9403
Teachers often have a number of concerns about implementing inquiry instruction in their classrooms. This is not surprising given that most college science programs rely primarily on lecture and “cookbook” laboratory experiences, therefore, providing teachers with little inquiry experience. Target Inquiry is an innovative professional development program for high school chemistry teachers that uses an authentic chemistry research experience to help teachers better understand science inquiry so that they can create a meaningful inquiry-based science program for their students. To implement inquiry instruction aligned with the National Science Education Standards, teachers must understand that science is more complex than the 5-step process many textbooks label the “scientific-method.” Data from teacher interviews and journal entries were collected to determine how teachers' perceptions of the process of science inquiry and their self-efficacy with respect to teaching using inquiry were impacted by their summer research experiences.